HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

Tanzania faces generalized HIV epidemic which means it affects all sections of the society but also concentrated epidemic among certain population groups. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania is characterised by substantial across age, gender, geographical location and socioeconomic status implying difference in the risk of transmission of infection. In 2019, among 1.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS, the prevalence was 4.6% and 58,000 new HIV infection among 15–49 years old, and 6,500 new infections among children below 15 years old, Report from Tanzania PHIA of 2016/17 shows that HIV prevalence among women is higher (6.2%) than men (3.1%). The prevalence of HIV is less than 2% among 15 19 years for both males and females and then increases with age for both sexes.

There is a widespread conception among Tanzanians and among some health workers that the 1979 Uganda–Tanzania War contributed to the spread of AIDS across the country. AIDS was first identified in Tanzania in 1984.

In December 2013, UNAIDS supported regions and countries led efforts to establish new targets for HIV treatment which were to be scaled up beyond 2015 after the deadline of 2011 targets and commitments of Political Declaration of HIV and AIDS. It was agreed by 2020, 90% of all the people living with HIV/AIDS knows their status, 90% of all the people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all the people receiving antiretrovital therapy have viral suppression. By 2019, 83% of all people living with HIV infection know their status of which 90% (75% of all people living with HIV/AIDS) receive antiretroviral therapy and 92%(69% of all people living with HIV/AIDS) have viral suppression.

The Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) and the Zanzibar AIDS Commission authorized the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics to conduct the Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey 2011–12. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Government Statistician (Zanzibar) and was funded by the United States Agency for International Development, TACAIDS, and the Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. ICF International provided technical assistance during the survey. The survey covered both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Its objectives were to collect data on knowledge and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and measure HIV prevalence among women and men age 15–49. in the 15 to 49 age group from every administrative region of Tanzania for HIV infection. Overall, the survey found that 5.1 percent of those tested were HIV positive. of women were HIV positive, which was significantly higher than the 3.8 percentage rate for men. These results were not statistically different from the results of the previous survey in 2007–08. (240 tested), and men, 14.2 percent (200 tested). of women were HIV positive, which was significantly higher than the 1.2 percentage rate for men. Njombe region had the highest rate of positive women, 8.6 percent (75 tested), while Kigoma region had the highest rate for men, 3.6 percent (153 tested). The rate for men was higher than for women in only six of Tanzania's 30 regions. The rate for both men and women was highest for people in the highest wealth quintile. in this age group from every administrative region of Tanzania for HIV infection. The survey found that 7.5 percent of women were HIV positive, which was significantly higher than the 5.2 percentage rate for men. Njombe region had the highest rate of positive women, 18.6 percent (199 tested), and men, 21.4 percent (149 tested). The rate for men was higher than for women in only four of Tanzania's 30 regions. ''In 2016/17 estimated 65% of adults tested for HIV/AIDS among them 59% men while 71% female. As of 2013 there were about 2,100 voluntary counselling and testing sites. Number of people living with HIV/AIDS increased from 64% in 2015 to 84% in 2019